Sunday, 16 October 2016

Selenium, arsenic and molybdenum in the Bowland Shale and related deposits in England, Wales and Ireland.

The
Bowland Shale and other Carboniferous shale deposits in England,
Wales and Ireland have received considerable interest from
hydrocarbons exploration companies in recent years, due to the high
levels of natural gas held within the deposits, which companies hope
to exploit using hydraulic fracturing (fracking) a controversial
technology which involves blasting the rock with high pressure water,
chemicals and sand in order to fracture the rock and release the gas
trapped within it. This technology has driven a boom in the gas
industry in the US, but has been linked to a number of environmental
problems, including the release of harmful trace elements such as
arsenic and selenium from the shale deposits, which have in some
cases then entered aquifers or other natural water sources. The
organic geochemistry and radionuclide flux of the Bowland Shale have
been studied, but to date no study has been made of the trace element
geochemistry of these deposits, despite the fact that permits to
exploit the gas have been issued, and a moratorium on the practice in
one English county (Lancashire) has been overturned by the UK Government.

Selenium
is essential to animals and plants, but at higher levels becomes
toxic. In humans, when consumed at levels higher than about 400 μm
per day, selenium is neurotoxin and a carcinogen and can cause
diabetes. Excess selenium in the environment has been linked to other
fossil fuels, with problems recorded close to coal storage
facilities, coal burning industries and oil refineries. In Ireland
instances of selenium toxicity in farm animals have occurred where
soils directly overlying black shale deposits have had raised levels
of the metal due to leaching, and wells in parts of France have been
abandoned after it was revealed that the water was enriched with
selenium after coming into contact with black shale deposits. Further
more hydraulic fracturing of the Barnett Shale in Texas has been
directly linked to raised levels of selenium in local groundwater.
Incidents of raised selenium in groundwater after hydraulic
fracturing have also been reported in parts of Montana and the
American southeast.

Arsenic
is a more familiar toxin, and is found in many minerals, particularly sulphur compounds. Trace levels of arsenic are again important to animal life, but at higher levels it is extremely toxic, and is a major source of groundwater toxicity in many parts of the world. Raised arsenic levels in
groundwater extracted from wells in Texas has also been reported
following hydraulic fracturing of the Barnett Shale.

Molybdenum
is another metalic element found in a range of minerals. It is essential to the metabolic processes of nitrogen-fixing Bacteria and essential to all multi-cellular life-forms at low levels, but again becomes toxic at higher levels. As with selenium, incidents of molybdenum toxicity
have been recorded in Irish livestock grazing on soils directly
overlying black shale deposits.

Parnell
et al. examined 42 samples of
shale taken from the Bowland and related shale deposits at seventeen
sites, seven in England, one in Wales, one on the Isle of Man, and
eight in Ireland. These were milled and treated with perchloric,
nitric, hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acids to remove as much water
from the samples as possible, then analysed by inductively coupled
plasma-mass spectrometry to determine the trace element levels.

The Carboniferous shale deposits of the UK and Ireland were found to
have an average selenium level of 20.5 parts per million, with
younger parts of the deposits having lower levels than older parts.
This compares with average selenium levels in oil shales of about 13
parts per million; notably the Cretaceous black shales of Montana
have average selenium levels of about 10 parts per million and the
Cretaceous black shales of the souheasern United States only about 1
part per million, yet hydraulic fracturing of both has been linked to
unsafe levels of selenium in groundwater.

Molybdenum levels in the shales were also notably high, with levels
ranging from 20 to 70 parts per million, with one exception in the
samples from Ballybunion in County Kerry, where levels reached 155
parts per million. In the case of molybdenum there appeared to be no
correlation between molybdenum levels and the age of the deposits,
though there is a correlation between molybdenum levels and organic
carbon levels; this relationship has previously been recorded in the
Barnett Shale of Texas, but the British and Irish shales show
consistently far higher molybdenum levels than those from Texas.

Arsenic levels were also consistently higher in the British and Irish
shales than in other shales studied, reaching a maximum of 52 parts
per million in samples from Lancashire, with almost all samples
exceeding the 8-9 parts per million typical of the Barnett Shale,
hydraulic fracturing of which has again been linked to dangerously
high arsenic levels in groundwater.

Parnell
et al. strongly
suspect that the high levels of selenium, molybdenum and arsenic in
the Carboniferous black shales of Great Britain and Ireland are
related to the Ordovician volcanic arc which cuts through the centre
of the deposits and which would have been an important source of
water run-off when the deposits were forming. Layers of tuff
(volcanic ash) within the shale beds also suggest that the deposits
may also have been subject to occasional bouts of fresh volcanic
input as they were forming. Volcanic rocks and ash falls are known to
be important sources of trace metals.

The presence of high levels of these elements in the Carboniferous
shales of Britain and Ireland is of great concern if plans to exploit
these shales go ahead, particularly as the elements are present at
much higher levels than they are in American deposits where these
elements have caused environmental problems. In theory a repeat of
any such problems could be avoided with a sufficiently tight
regulatory and monitoring system, but, particularly in the UK, it is
unclear if the political will to implement this exists.

I`m Charlie Bean and I live in Toronto Canada. I needed a loan to buy a house and I searched for a mortgage loan from all banks and I was denied and I loss hope of having my own house until I came across a post just as you reading my post now. I saw a post about a Financial Service Company who gives loan at 2% interest so I applied in STEAKLEY FINANCIAL SERVICES using their email steakleyfinancialservices@yahoo.com. And my loan was granted it was like a dream but was true and now am a owner of a house in Toronto and am paying the mortgage loan with no stress and I also requested if I can be granted a business loan and I was also granted. Now am living a happy life, I will advice you if you have an financial problems and you need money to settle it so you can pay with no stress just contact Steakley Financial Service at their email Steakleyfinancialservices@yahoo.com.

I`m Charlie Bean and I live in Toronto Canada. I needed a loan to buy a house and I searched for a mortgage loan from all banks and I was denied and I loss hope of having my own house until I came across a post just as you reading my post now. I saw a post about a Financial Service Company who gives loan at 2% interest so I applied in STEAKLEY FINANCIAL SERVICES using their email steakleyfinancialservices@yahoo.com. And my loan was granted it was like a dream but was true and now am a owner of a house in Toronto and am paying the mortgage loan with no stress and I also requested if I can be granted a business loan and I was also granted. Now am living a happy life, I will advice you if you have an financial problems and you need money to settle it so you can pay with no stress just contact Steakley Financial Service at their email Steakleyfinancialservices@yahoo.com.

Greetings to everyone, Life they say is full of deceit. No torture and pain can be compare to what i Theresa L. Bernard experience in the hands of scammers, I trusted the words of those fake loan lenders without verifying, I lost more than $12,500 in the quest of obtaining a loan i sold my car defaulted in my bills but i keep on falling victim my life has been piece of trash full of mess. My kids dropped out of school, My bank denied me credit because my credit score was down already. Until last week a very close friend told me that she got a loan from PROSPER LOAN PLC that i should also give it a try. Not having an option I contacted them with a heart full of sorrow and skepticism i shyly follow their procedures comply to their policy, I was waiting for the bad news like every other loan company i contacted gave me then i receive a credit alert that my bank account has been credited with $250,000 which i initially applied for instantly tears of joy roll out of my eyes because I never believe it will come through. Whenever you are in need of any kind of loan don't be a prey and contact the one true loan company via their information. Email: prosperloanplc@gmail.com or Call +1(205) 224-8709. And receive your financial breakthrough. **********

Finding a legitimate loan lender (mrdonaldmooreloanfirm@gmail.com) have always been a huge problem to clients who have financial problem and in need of solution to it. The issue of credit and collateral are something that clients are always worried about when seeking a loan from a legitimate lender. But we have made that difference in the lending industry by offering loans to individual and public sector that are in need of financial Assistance in a low interest rate of 2%. Bad credit acceptable, The Terms and Conditions are very simple and considerate. You will never regret anything in this loan transaction because we will make you smile. Our company has recorded a lot of breakthroughs in the provision of first class financial services to our clients, especially in the area of Loan syndication and capital provision for individuals and companies.

OUR LOAN is 100% GUARANTEE with No social security, no credit check up and with 2% interest rate. We have a network of Investors that are willing to provide funds of whatever amount to individuals and organizations to start business and operations, All you need to do is let us know exactly what you want and we will surely make your dream come true. Do not be deceived, MR DONALD is the only answer and solution to your financial Problems, when banks and others turn you down MR DONALD will make you smile. For more details about our loan contact us via

Our loans are well insured for maximum security is our priority, Our leading goal is to help you get the services you deserve, Our program is the quickest way to get what you need in a snap. Reduce your payments to ease the strain on your monthly expenses. Gain flexibility with which you can use for any purpose – from vacations, to education, to unique purchases

Are you a business man or woman? Are you in any financial mess or do you need funds to start up your own business? Do you need a loan to start a nice Small Scale and medium business? Do you have a low credit score and you are finding it hard to obtain capital loan from local banks and other financial institutes?.

We offer a wide range of financial services which includes: Personal Loans, Debt consolidation loans, Business Loans, Education Loans, Mortgage Secured Loan, Unsecured loan, Mortgage Loans, Payday off Loans, Student Loans, Commercial Loans, Car Loans, Investments Loans, Development Loans, Acquisition Loans, Construction Loans, with low interest rate at 2% per annul for individuals, companies and corporate bodies. Get the best for your family and own your dream home as well with our General Loan scheme.

If you are interested to get a loan then kindly write us with the loan requirement.Please, contact us for more information: bettermentfunding@gmail.com

Good day to you all, i just want to share this with you friends, because am so happy now , finally i just got my loan from Mr Wilson if you are in any need of any type of loan you can contact him through this email (wilsononlineloanoffer@gmail.com)

My names is Una. I live in USA Las Vegas and I am a happy woman today as I speak , I told my self that any loan company or lender that could change my broke life of mine and that of my family , I will refer any person that is looking for loan to Them. They gave me happiness to me and my family, I was in need of a loan of $70,000 USD on september 12 2017 and I got my loan They are indeed God fearing people, working with a reputable loan company. if you are in need of a loan and you are 100% sure to pay back the loan please contact them today and please tell them that Mrs Una referred you to them you can reach them via email;(ludmilaszymanowiczloancompaby@gmail.com) I wish you good luck thanks and may God almighty bless

TODAY I'M SO HAPPY I'M LIVING WELL WITH THE HELP OF ENGINEER MICHAEL BLANK ATM CARD

I have being hearing about this blank ATM card for a while and i never really paid any interest to it because of my doubts. Until one day i discovered a hacking man called Engineer Michael, he is really good at what he is doing. is given out Blank ATM card to help people and make people rich. I was surprise after he sent me mine after doing what he asked, i receive the card from ups delivery with my pin. I use it in any ATM machine it works well without any trace, i cash out $5000 daily everyday. God bless you sir. please his email is micharelatmhacker@gmail.com or text him +18508008129. i care about you too i want you to be rich and be happy like me. please tell him i'm sharing his information for what he has done for me. try and try yours and to be rich. God bless you Michael.

About Me

Studied Palaeobiology & Evolution at the University of Portsmouth, Geosciences via the Open University & Ecology and Conservation at Christchurch University, Canterbury.
Have worked in wildlife based tourism, mineral exploration, development, conservation, education & environmental chemistry. Occasionally write articles for papers and magazines.

This Blog would be impossible without the work of countless scientists (and others) throughout the world. Where possible I do my best to credit them, but there will always be many more who remain unmentioned; this does not imply I am ungrateful for their contributions. Any errors or inaccuracies are, of course, my own.